Precisionism was an artistic movement that emerged in the United States after the end of World War I. The movement reached its height during the inter-War period, between World War I and World War II. The movement had no presence outside the United States, and although no manifesto was ever created, the artists themselves were a close group who were active throughout the 1920s and 1930s, and exhibited together. (www.wikipedia.com)
Artists of Precisionism
Elsie Driggs, Charles Demuth, Edward Hopper, Charles Sheeler, and Georgia O'Keeffe were prominent Precisionists. George Ault, Ralston Crawford and Gerald Murphy were other artists associated with the hard-edged style of Precisionism. While the Precisionism movement died out as World War II began, Georgia O'Keeffe, remained connected to Precisionist ideals until the 1960s, and although her best-known works are not closely related to Precisionism. Precisionist artists have also been referred to as "Cubist-Realists", "Sterilists", and "Immaculates". Their art would have an influence on the magic realism and pop art movements. (www.wikipedia.com)
What’s in a name?
The term, Precisionism, was first coined in the early 1920s. Influenced strongly by Cubism and Futurism, its main themes included industrialization and the modernization of the American landscape, which were depicted in precise, sharply defined, geometrical forms. There is a degree of reverence for the industrial age in the movement, but social commentary was not fundamental to the style. The degree of abstraction in the movement ranged considerably (Sheeler's work was sometimes almost photorealistic). (www.wikipedia.com)
Political, Social, and Economical Effects
Political- The style of Precisionism art work, straight edges, and clean precise painting, usually about industrial structures, led it to have very little political effect on the American Government during the 1920’s. This type of art work wasn’t very biased and went against no law that had been created, and nor did any of the famous artists of Precisionism during this time period. Because of this, there is very little to say about the Political effects of Precisionism during the 1920’s.
Social- The Social effects of Precisionism can be seen very clearly. The art work depicted its subjects, as being very clean, and neat, therefore not being offensive to most anybody. The work of Edward Hopper especially, includes many people which are seen in almost every painting he has completed. Some of these subjects included Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. Because of this, his art work was appreciated by the majority of Americans and many, strived to get a piece of their own.
Economical- Economically, Precisionism art work had many effects; mainly due to the fact that this style of art work focused primarily on industrial, mechanical, and structural objects. Therefore, many of the paintings included industrial buildings and machines that showed the Second American Industrial Revolution, which was occurring during the 1920's. This allowed many Americans to visualize the changing economy that they were surrounded by. It showed how new factories, and machines were springing up in the cities across the nation and how they were having many effects on not only the people, but American lifestyle, and the environment as well. The Great Gatsby Precisionism, in general, had very few similarities to The Great Gatsby. But, one artist, Georgia O'Keeffe, had a very similar style in her later career to that of the author of that book, and a member of the "lost generation", F. Scott Fitzgerald. Georgia O'Keeffe became famous in her later career for her paintings of flowers, and that colors and techniques that she used. This is similar to the style of symbolism that F. Scott Fitzgerald used in his novel, The Great Gatsby. He did this to show how certain objects had unique effects on their surroundings, and what type of role that subject played in the novel. In this way, Precisionism can be related, indirectly, to the great American novel of the 1920;s, The Great Gatsby.
Precisionism
What is Precisionism?
Precisionism was an artistic movement that emerged in the United States after the end of World War I. The movement reached its height during the inter-War period, between World War I and World War II. The movement had no presence outside the United States, and although no manifesto was ever created, the artists themselves were a close group who were active throughout the 1920s and 1930s, and exhibited together. (www.wikipedia.com)
Artists of Precisionism
Elsie Driggs, Charles Demuth, Edward Hopper, Charles Sheeler, and Georgia O'Keeffe were prominent Precisionists. George Ault, Ralston Crawford and Gerald Murphy were other artists associated with the hard-edged style of Precisionism. While the Precisionism movement died out as World War II began, Georgia O'Keeffe, remained connected to Precisionist ideals until the 1960s, and although her best-known works are not closely related to Precisionism. Precisionist artists have also been referred to as "Cubist-Realists", "Sterilists", and "Immaculates". Their art would have an influence on the magic realism and pop art movements. (www.wikipedia.com)
What’s in a name?
The term, Precisionism, was first coined in the early 1920s. Influenced strongly by Cubism and Futurism, its main themes included industrialization and the modernization of the American landscape, which were depicted in precise, sharply defined, geometrical forms. There is a degree of reverence for the industrial age in the movement, but social commentary was not fundamental to the style. The degree of abstraction in the movement ranged considerably (Sheeler's work was sometimes almost photorealistic). (www.wikipedia.com)
Political, Social, and Economical Effects
Political- The style of Precisionism art work, straight edges, and clean precise painting, usually about industrial structures, led it to have very little political effect on the American Government during the 1920’s. This type of art work wasn’t very biased and went against no law that had been created, and nor did any of the famous artists of Precisionism during this time period. Because of this, there is very little to say about the Political effects of Precisionism during the 1920’s.
Social- The Social effects of Precisionism can be seen very clearly. The art work depicted its subjects, as being very clean, and neat, therefore not being offensive to most anybody. The work of Edward Hopper especially, includes many people which are seen in almost every painting he has completed. Some of these subjects included Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. Because of this, his art work was appreciated by the majority of Americans and many, strived to get a piece of their own.
Economical- Economically, Precisionism art work had many effects; mainly due to the fact that this style of art work focused primarily on industrial, mechanical, and structural objects. Therefore, many of the paintings included industrial buildings and machines that showed the Second American Industrial Revolution, which was occurring during the 1920's. This allowed many Americans to visualize the changing economy that they were surrounded by. It showed how new factories, and machines were springing up in the cities across the nation and how they were having many effects on not only the people, but American lifestyle, and the environment as well.
The Great Gatsby
Precisionism, in general, had very few similarities to The Great Gatsby. But, one artist, Georgia O'Keeffe, had a very similar style in her later career to that of the author of that book, and a member of the "lost generation", F. Scott Fitzgerald. Georgia O'Keeffe became famous in her later career for her paintings of flowers, and that colors and techniques that she used. This is similar to the style of symbolism that F. Scott Fitzgerald used in his novel, The Great Gatsby. He did this to show how certain objects had unique effects on their surroundings, and what type of role that subject played in the novel. In this way, Precisionism can be related, indirectly, to the great American novel of the 1920;s, The Great Gatsby.
Precisionism Art Gallery
Famous Artists of Precisionism:
Charles Demuth
Elsie Driggs
Edward Hopper
Georgia O'Keeffe
Charles Sheeler
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Other Forms of Art During the 1920's:
The Harlem RenaissanceAmerican Scene Painting
Art Deco
Works Cited:
www.wikipedia.com
www.areaofdesign.com/ americanicons/demuth.htm
http://www.askart.com/AskART/D/charles_henry_demuth/charles_henry_demuth.aspx